On 20 February, all together in defense of democracy, against neo-dictatorship! Tomorrow, on 20 February at 12:00, a major rally will be held in “Skënderbej” Square to commemorate the historic day when the symbols of the communist dictatorship were toppled, and the day when the busts and living symbols of the dictatorship were overthrown. Citizens of Tirana! All together in “Skënderbej” Square tomorrow, 20 February, in defense of democracy, against neo-dictatorship! All together, for our freedoms and rights!

After the IMF’s OK, the Albanian government does not change the fiscal package ON PAGE 5

International mediators in Rambouillet expressed determination to conclude the agreement SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 2 A substantial reduction, to the detriment of the Albanians, in what had been envisaged by the draft agreement. The referendum clause is dropped, and a blocking chamber for minorities is envisaged. Majorski: I refute reports that Russia will not oppose NATO’s entry into Kosovo. Hill: The agreement will be achieved, and we know how to put it into effect. Hashim Thaçi has traveled to Ljubljana. As the Conference draws to a close, Belgrade is trying to maintain direct ties with Washington. The most important talks are taking place outside the castle. By Mero BAZE Rambouillet, 17 February

By Mero BAZE Rambouillet, 18 February Belgrade now has only one option: to emerge with as few problems as possible from the trap set for it by international diplomacy, and that is the path of bargaining over the concessions the international community will make to it regarding NATO’s presence in Kosovo. Yugoslav President Milosheviç has spent the past three days continuing his classic last-minute game, in which raising peripheral issues unrelated to the heart of the conflict is a way to gain time. Now that Saturday is approaching, Belgrade does not even seem to intend to reject

Statement by the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha: An agreement without a referendum will remain only on paper Statement by the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha: An agreement without a referendum will remain only on paper Kosovo’s independence, the fundamental condition for peace in the Balkans Kosovo, with two million Albanians, is in a human catastrophe, and if old interests,

After the European reaction to the release of the six Asked about the statement by the representative of the Council of Europe, the chief military prosecutor, Aleksandër Goga, replied curtly and sharply to the “RD” newspaper: “We do not answer to the Council of Europe, but we will continue our work. I do not even know this person you mention, so go and ask him about the six. Do not ask me any more about their arrest.” ON PAGE 6

The Minister of Public Order and the MPs from Vlora threaten the police commissioner Koçiu: “I don’t know the MPs from Vlora, but I have a lot to say about them” ON PAGE 3

as few problems as possible from the obstacles raised by international diplomacy, and this is an increase in the bargaining over the concession they will make to the international community regarding NATO’s presence in Kosovo. Yugoslav President Milosheviç has for iri days continued to play his classic last-minute game, in which opening up side issues that have nothing to do with the essence of the conflict is a way of gaining time. Now that Saturday’s meeting is approaching, Belgrade does not seem even to intend to seriously reject NATO, and it also seems to have forgotten the threats that NATO soldiers would be welcomed as they were in Vietnam. What Belgrade is now trying to do is simply enter into direct negotiations with Washington, to gain whatever it can from the last-minute bargaining. At best, this deal seems likely to result in Milosheviç remaining in power for a long time and his authority extending into a new phase of developments in Kosovo. American determination to bring NATO into Kosovo is, in practice, the end of Serbian military power in Kosovo and a de facto restriction of its sovereignty over Kosovo. In a way, the Serbs will have to accept that they have lost the chance to play games with agreements, while the international community also has the opportunity to show once again that its approach to Serbia should not lead to legitimizing the forces behind the crisis, but to eliminating them. The Serbs’ eagerness to enter into direct relations with the Americans should also be taken as a sign of the seriousness of the American threat to Belgrade and, ultimately, as a sign of the seriousness of the Rambouillet Conference, which began as a European battle with American backing and ended as an American victory with European backing. The Europeans are now decoration at the conference, and the final bargaining is once again being conducted by the US. The Rambouillet experiment seems as though it would have failed without Ambassador Hill, but without this symbol, the Europeans would naturally have been more indifferent to European issues. For this reason, the final deal being negotiated between Washington and Belgrade confirms the seriousness of the Conference, but, on the other hand, obliges the Europeans henceforth to regard Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia as part of the continent; since they did not invest their strength in the matter, they must invest in projects that will stabilize peace. Several youth organizations gathered yesterday in Tirana to discuss the grave situation in Kosovo. Their representatives, after analyzing the catastrophic situation in Kosovo and its possible consequences, and considering young people a great vital force of this nation, decided to demonstrate firmly before their compatriots and world public opinion that they will not allow our nation to be trampled upon. The youth representatives asked the Albanian delegation in Rambouillet to take consistent positions on the Kosovo issue. They also ask...

Kosovo, with two million Albanians, is facing a human catastrophe, and if old interests, reminiscent of the interests of Tsarist Russia, strip Albanians of their rights and plunge them into misfortune, Albanians must take measures to realize the motto “One nation, one position” Fundamental is facing a human catastrophe, and if old interests, reminiscent of the interests of Tsarist Russia, strip Albanians of their rights and plunge them into misfortune, Albanians must take measures to realize the motto “One nation, one position” ON PAGE 3

Press conference of theater unions and the nationwide association of theater artists ON PAGE 8

Strategic enterprises are driven into bankruptcy one step before privatization AMC is heading increasingly toward bankruptcy each day. From annual profits of 180 million lek, AMC today cannot collect even 36 million lek, and continuing operations requires an investment of at least 8 million dollars. More than 8 thousand numbers will eventually have no.... ON PAGE 8

Pajtim Hoxha carries out political purges at the Tirana District Court Five criminal judges this reshuffle would no longer handle criminal cases, but civil ones. Judges Agim Bendo, Artan Zemeli, Artur Gaxhi, Ahmet Metalia and Petrit Kaja are the judges affected by the “reform” devised by Tirana’s chief judge. ON PAGE 6

The head of the Fushë-Krujë municipality, Dashamir Çela, speaks about social problems The central government has blocked all the projects submitted by local government concerning employment... ON PAGE 6

Today, 160 days since the murder of the December Leader Each day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government, which took the life of the December Leader, has shown Albanians that it has lost its respect and self-awareness—qualities that have specific names, but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot possibly tolerate these facts. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The Municipality: The cleaning company “Nuova Ecolega” must leave Tolerance toward the company “Nuova Ecolega” has gone so far that specialists from the Austrian company, which has a contract to operate in the western part of the capital, have said: “Only in Albania can you make money whether you work or don’t work. ON PAGE 5

The Democratic Student Forum’s meeting is held in Shkodër Increasing the actual number of members and involving an ever-greater number of young lecturers were among the strategic points of the FDS, presented by the forum’s chairman, Kreshnik Çollaku. ON PAGE 4

Press conference of theater unions and